Refrigerator door handle



...lune 8, 1954 T H, KOEBER ETAL 2,680,642

REFRIGERATOR DOOR HANDLE Filed April 3, 1951 INVENTORS THEODCDRE H. KOEBER COLEMAN F. SMITH [DMO (W ATTY.

Patented June 8, x1954 1:

nEFmcEnAroR Doon HANDLE u Theodore H. Kocher, Oak Park, vIll., and Coleman F. Smith, Evansville, Ind., assignors to International Harvester Com New Jersey v pany, a corporation of i Application Api-i1 s, 1951, serial No. 218,922

j 3 claims. (o1. 292-347) `This invention relates to door handles, particularly useful in conjunction with refrigerators though not necessarily limited solely to refrigerator handles.

In order to provide a refrigerator which will blend in with the color scheme of a kitchen, it has been found desirable to incorporate some shade of color into the refrigerator otherthan the customary white. Some manufacturers have resorted to finishing the interior or exterior portions of the refrigerators in a variety of colors while others have provided the refrigerators with permanently attached trim in an assortment of colors. However, once a refrigerator having a finish or trim of a particular color has been selected, the color scheme of the kitchen must be retained if the refrigerator is to match since there are no provisions for changing the color of the nish or trim. Therefore, it is the principal object of this invention to provide a refrigerator with interchangeable colored means so that the refrigerator may be changed to match the color of a kitchen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator with a door handle having a colored insert which will match the color scheme of a room in which the refrigerator is disposed.

A further object of the invention is to provide the combination of a handle and a colored insert removably secured to the handle so that it may be replaced by a diierently colored insert.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide novel means for securing an insert to a handle so that the insert may be easily and quickly assembled to the handle or removed therefrom.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the 4accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator provided with a novel door handle.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the door handle of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional `view of the handle taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of y2 reference numeral I ll, comprising generally a cabinet II and a door I2. One edge I3 of door l2 is hingedly connected to cabinet II by hinges (not shown), andthe opposite edge is provided with a suitable latching means (not shown) for holding the door closed. y Secured to the latching means for operation thereof is a handle Ill which may be constructed from-a suitable metal and chrome plated so as to provide an attractive iinish.

The handle le is rectangular shaped and has a radially curved body portion I5 which is provided with downwardly extending end portions I6 and Il. A boss 5I' having a bearing surface I8 therethrough is formed on each end portion and is utilized in fastening the handle to the latching means. The body portion I 5 of the handle is provided with a depressed portion I9 denned by shoulders 2i),v 2| and 22. A curved portion 39 is formed in depressed portion Iii in order to provide a portion which may be easily gripped by the operator `when the door is to be opened. Edge 23 of the depressed portion is provided with three extensions or tabs 2i, each having an upwardlyyex'tending portion 2d and an outwardly extending portion 28. To open the door the operator grips the curved portion 39 and pulls outwardly which rotates the handle about bearing surfaces I8 and unlatches the door.

An insert 2l' is provided having a radially curvedfrontportion 2 8 which blends Vin with the curvature of bodyportion I5 of the handle. Depending ribs 29, 30 and 3| extend around three edges of the insert 2l and ilt adjacent shoulders 20, 2l and 22 respectively of body portion I5. The remaining edge of the insert 21 is curved downwardly and inwardly to form a lip 32 having a groove 33 on the inner side thereof which hooks over the outwardly extending portion 260i the tabs 218. The inner side of the insert Zlis provided with a plurality of ribs 3d which serve to strengthen the insert.

Y Two circular shaped `projections-35 are formed on the inner side of the-insert 21, and withY the insert in place, the projections abut the depressed portion I9. Twocircular shaped holes 3G are provided in depressedportion It adjacent the projections 35 in axial alignment with internally threadedbores provided in the projections. Two screws 37 extend through the ,holes 3f: and are received and securedby the threaded bores of the projections 35. YIn,assembling the insert 2l to body portion I5; groove 33 of lip 32 srst fitted over the tabs 2liA and then the insert is rotated thereabout until the projections 35 abut the depressed portion I9. Screws 31 are then threaded into the bore of the projections 35 and tightened so that the insert is held securely in position by the screws 31 and` tabs 24. If it is desired to remove the insert 21, the screws 3l can be quickly removed and the insert rotated about tabs 24 and removed from the body portion I5. By this arrangement of fastening means, the insert 21 can be easily and quickly assembled or disassembled.

By providing inserts for the handle I4 in a variety of colors, it is possible to match the handle of the refrigerator l with the color scheme of the kitchen in which it is placed. If the color scheme of the kitchen is changed, the insert in the handle may be quickly removed and replaced by one of proper shade. This feature of the invention is very attractive to housewives who do not wish to restrict the color scheme of their kitchen to one which will match a refrigerator having color permanently incorporated therein. By constructing the inserts 21 from plastic, very attractive shades are available at a substantially low cost. The owner of the refrigerator may keep a variety of inserts on hand for immediate use or may call a dealer to install an insert of a chosen color.

Additional means for securing the insert 21 to the handle is provided by two hollow rectangular shaped projections 38 which are formed on the inner side of insert 21 adjacent the circular projections 35. Two oppositely disposed walls 49 and 4I of each rectangular shaped projection have recessed portions 42 and 43 respectively into which a speed nut 44 of suitable structure is secured. It is contemplated that a rectangular shaped speed nut 44 be used, as shown in Fig. 5, having the ends 45 and 4E formed with jagged teeth 41 which will dig into the walls 40 and 4I respectively and secure the speed nut in place. Each nut is provided with extensions I and 52 having downwardly extending projections 53 and 54 respectively. An aperture 48 is provided in the central portion of the nut 44 which receives and secures a screw 49 which extends through a circular hole 50 formed in recessed portion i9 in axial alignment with aperture 48. As the screws 49 are tightened, the projections 53 and 54 will abut depressed portion I9 so that the nuts Illl will be held securely in place. By this arrangement the screws 49 and nuts 44 will cooperate to secure the insert 21 to the body portion I9 of the handle.

In the illustration the insert 21 is secured to depressed portion I9 by screws 31 and 49, but it is to be understood that one set of these screws could be eliminated if desired. Applicants have found that during the manufacture of the handles, it is more economical to secure the insert 21 by screws 31. However, if the insert is made from plastic, the circular projections 35 will occasionally break or crack during assembly` If this occurs the speed nuts 44 are then snapped into rectangular projections 3B and screws 49 are used to secure the insert 21 to the handle. After the refrigerator has been purchased by the owner, it may be necessary to interchange inserts several times as the color scheme of the kitchen is changed or if the owner desires an occasional change in color of the refrigerator handle. During such interchange the projections 35 or threads therein may be damaged and it is a distinct advantage to have the optional means for securing the inserts to the handle.

It will be apparent from the above description that the present invention provides a novel refrigerator handle having means for the interchangeability of colored inserts therein in order to match the refrigerator to the color scheme of a kitchen in which it is placed. The inserts may be easily and quickly interchanged and the optional means for securing the inserts to the handle assures continued use of each insert.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the particular embodiment of the invention shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention. This is contemplated by the appending claims. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in details within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A handle comprising a body portion having a depressed area formed therein, said depressed area extending to one edge of said body portion, the outermost marginal edge of said depressed area having a plurality of spaced, L-shaped flanges extending therefrom; an insert positionable over said depressed area, said insert having a portion of its marginal edge abutting the other marginal edges of said depressed area, said insert being provided with a depending lip portion along one edge thereof, said lip portion extending beyond said body portion and having a groove formed therein for receiving one leg of each of said L-shaped flanges, said lip portion having a surface adapted to abut the other leg of each of said L-shaped flanges.

2. A handle comprising a body portion having a depressed area formed in one surface thereof, one marginal edge of said depressed area being positioned substantially at one marginal edge of said body portion, said one marginal edge of said body portion having a plurality of spaced-apart flanges extending therefrom, an insert removably mounted over said depressed area, said insert having a shape sufficient to substantially cover said depressed area, one marginal edge of said insert being provided with a depending hookedshaped portion, said hooked-shaped portion extending beyond said marginal edge of said body portion for receiving each of said flanges.

3. A handle comprising a body portion having a depressed area formed therein, said depressed area being positioned in said body portion to have one marginal edge thereof at one marginal edge of said body portion, said one marginal edge of said depressed area having an L-shaped flange extending therefrom, an insert positioned over said depressed area, said insert having a portion of the marginal edges thereof abutting the other marginal edges of said depressed area, said insert being provided with a depending lip portion formed at another portion of the marginal edges thereof, said lip portion extending beyond said body portion and having a groove formed therein for receiving one leg of said L-shaped flange, said lip portion having a surface adapted to abut the other leg of said L-shaped nange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,663,938 Goodman Mar. 27, 1928 2,007,476 Miller July 9, 1935 2,117,192 McClung May 10, 1938 2,125,783 Heeman Aug. 2, 1938 2,149,375 Wiebe Mar. '1, i939 

